Origin: England
Height: Females stand a
minimum of 21 inches at the shoulder, males a
minimum of 22 inches
Weight: 60-100 pounds
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: High
Life Expectancy: 10-12
years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Medium
Common Misspellings: Olde English Sheepdog,
Old English Sheepdog
Alternate Names: Bobtail, Bobbie, Bobby, Bobbies
One of the larger teddy bears of the dog
world, the Old English Sheepdog is a wonderful
pet as well as a capable working dog. With his
long and fuzzy coat obscuring all but this
personable fellow’s black nose, he remains one
of the most easily recognizable breeds of dogs
in the world and a favorite amongst those who
actually get to know the breed. While some are
put off by these loveable giants’ thick furry
coats, the Old English Sheepdog is really no
more work than any other long-haired breed of
dog, and fanciers are sure to tell you that this
fuzz ball’s great personality makes any amount
of upkeep well worth it.
The true origins of this magnificent breed
have been lost in the turn of centuries, though
it is believed that the Old English Sheepdog can
be traced back to the early parts of the
nineteenth century. In the counties of
Southwestern England, there were references made
to a large animal, known as the "drovers dog," a
breed which may have been a descendant of the
Scottish Bearded Collie or a dog known as the
Russian Owtchar. This large canine was used for
driving cattle and sheep to market and, due to
the fact that their working status made them
exempt from taxes, their tails were cut off (a
practice known as "docking") in order to
identify them as such. The practice of docking
the tail remains in effect in these modern
times, the breed having earned the nickname of
"Bobtail" or "Bobs" because of this.
Square-bodied and sturdily-built, the Old
English Sheepdog is easily recognized by his
shaggy waterproof coat and large size. Standing
a minimum of 21 inches at the shoulder, this
hardy working breed was bred large enough to
handle the cattle that had to be driven to
market, and yet agile enough to handle the sheep
in the fields. Also unique to the breed is their
strange shuffling gait, not unlike the movements
of a bear. The Old English Sheepdog is also
known to have a distinctive bark, known to have
a "pot-casse" tone.
The Old English Sheepdog can be found in any
shade of blue, gray, grizzle, or blue merle and
can be found either with or without white
markings. Their eyes are intelligent and bright,
found in shades of blue, dark brown, or an eye
of each color. Additionally, the blue-colored
Sheepdogs typically have one pale eye, known as
a pearl, china, or wall-eye. While some people
think that this pale eye is due to a defect and
is a sign of blindness it is, in fact, just a
normal eye and considered to be perfectly
acceptable. Yellow or amber eyes are considered
a fault, however.
The Old English Sheepdog is a loving and
friendly fuzz ball that tends to get along well
with other dogs, children, and a variety of
other pets. While keenly intelligent, they can
have a bit of a stubborn streak and their
bull-headed determination can make them a
challenge to train, but they remain a steadfast
and loyal companion to those who take the time
with them. Well known for their stable
disposition, the Old English Sheepdog may make a
good watchdog, but is not known for being shy,
nervous, nor is he an aggressive dog.
Due to his size, many think that the stout
Old English Sheepdog is a lazy dog that does not
require much exercise. In truth, however, he is
an athletic giant, bred for the purpose of
working for a living. While he doesn’t mind the
opportunity to nap in the shade, the Sheepdog
does enjoy a healthy amount of exercise and can
be prone to obesity if he does not receive it.
Should you choose an Old English Sheepdog as
your ideal pet, you will probably want a large
back yard where younger dogs have plenty of room
to run, frolic, and race around. If you don’t
have this, the new Sheepdog owner had best be
prepared to go for frequent walks or to take
regular trips down to the dog park.
For many years, the Old English Sheepdog was
shunned by the mainstream public, due to a
misinterpretation of the term "profuseness of
coat," which caused many to believe that this
meant that the breed had an excessive coat which
required an abnormal amount of maintenance. In
truth, the ideal Bobtail’s coat requires no more
upkeep than any other breed of long-haired dog.
For those who don’t wish to groom their dog
every couple of weeks, a simple trip to the
groomers for a clip-down may be in order,
allowing the dog to enjoy the hot and humid days
in a short-shorn coat. Don’t be fooled, however
- the Old English Sheepdog coat actually serves
to insulate the dog, helping to keep him cooler
on hot days, warm on cold days, and protection
from the damp.
The Old English Sheepdog is a notoriously
clever dog with a strong mind of his own. They
rarely react to loud voices and will come
downright belligerent if any type of physical
reprimands are used against them. When training
the Old English Sheepdog, it’s important to
bring a great deal of patience, and to stock to
routine. Most dogs are creatures of habit and
will learn through positive reinforcement - the
Sheepdog is no exception. In fact, it’s
important to realize that edible treats aren’t
the only kind of "reward" that a dog can
receive. If you’re not careful, you can reward
him in a negative fashion, such as chasing after
him in an attempts to retrieve a slipper that he
was chewing on. Instead of teaching him this
behavior is "bad," he learns that he can get his
owner to come and enjoy a great game of tag
simply by stealing the slipper.
It’s also equally important to teach your Old
English Sheepdog how to respond to non-physical
cues. When teaching him to sit, try taking a
tasty-smelling treat and hold it in your hand,
letting him smell it. Instead of pressing down
on your dog’s hindquarters or patting him on the
back, instead tell him to "sit," in a firm tone
as you slowly raise the treat up over your dog’s
head and in the direction of his back several
inches over his head. Ideally, your dog will
raise his head to try and see the treat and will
instinctively sit down so that he can look up.
Like any breed of dog, the Old English
Sheepdog is subject to a variety of health
concerns. Your best bet is, when deciding to
choose a new Old English Sheepdog puppy, check
around with several breeders and ask about the
various health issues that can affect these
beautiful little dogs. A reputable breeder
should be well-versed in the health concerns and
should be able to give you more details, as well
as showing you the sire and dam of your
potential puppy. Some of the health problems
that can affect Old English Sheepdogs include:
- Deafness
- Cataracts
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Hip dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
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A loving and protective companion, the Old
English Sheepdog makes an ideal family pet. They
enjoy being the comical clowns of the family and
are very playful dogs who exhibit a great deal
of patience with children and other pets alike.
While they can be somewhat stubborn, taking them
to obedience classes can prove very helpful, and
the cooperative Bobtail is a fast learner.
The main drawbacks of this breed would be the
Sheepdog’s large size and people being
intimidated by the dog’s long, shaggy coat.
While the Old English Sheepdog does a couple of
brushings throughout the week, most fanciers
will tell you that the merits of this wonderful
dog far outweigh any brushing-related drawbacks.
If you have room in your heart for this big
loveable teddy bear, chances are that the Old
English Sheepdog may fit perfectly into your
life.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Old English Sheepdog dog breed. We've compiled a list
of Old English Sheepdog information sites to assist you in quickly
locating quality information about the Old English Sheepdog dog
breed, while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than
poor attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in
general. If you know of a Old English Sheepdog information site that
offers unique, quality information and photos of the Old English
Sheepdog breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief
description so that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our
list below.
Old English Sheepdogs are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking
at Old English Sheepdog pictures, you can usually gain more insight
into what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can
help you decide if you really want to become a Old English Sheepdog
owner. The following sites below offer pictures of Old English
Sheepdog dogs, Old English Sheepdog puppy photos, funny Old English
Sheepdog photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Old English Sheepdog is the
right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Old English Sheepdog breeder from which to buy a
healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there
are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the
first Old English Sheepdog puppy you find at the cheapest price
available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Old English Sheepdog
breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional
money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste
from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll
likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and
heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy
with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special
care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even
euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring Old
English Sheepdog breeder who home-raises their puppies with love,
screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health
guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Old
English Sheepdog breed and is in it for the love of the breed,
rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Old English
Sheepdog puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many
sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for
puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear
of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Old English Sheepdog clubs and rescues web sites can help you
learn even more about the Old English Sheepdog dog breed, help you
locate a responsible Old English Sheepdog breeder, or help you find
a Old English Sheepdog dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a
loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list of Old
English Sheepdog clubs and Old English Sheepdog rescues web sites
for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Old English Sheepdog puppy can be a
daunting task! There are so many names to choose from that it can
take a lot of thought and research to find just the right name for
your Old English Sheepdog. Usually, it's best to get to know your
puppy for a few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will
help you decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a
sense of humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to
one side? A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Old
English Sheepdog puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at
least have a clue about what type of name you want to give. There
are a ton of dog names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some
are wonderful information resources, while others, unfortunately,
are just "garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in
on visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Old English Sheepdog puppy. These sites offer
inventive, unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that
have helped thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the
right name for their new baby!
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